Chapter 24 What's the use of confession? (Rewritten)

Language is an art. It is evident that every word remains the same, but it can yield different effects depending on the tone and sentence structure. From "don't... stop" to "don't stop" to "do...n't stop," three sentences suffice to vividly convey Felicity's mental and physical state.

Amidst squally rains and crashing waves, Felicity, who embarked on her maiden voyage at sea, still found herself immersed in the aftermath. Staring blankly at Stephen, she felt her life spiraling out of control ever since their encounter.

"So... what are we now?" she asked Stephen with a blank expression.

Stephen chuckled. "Hmm, we can be friends or a couple."

"Do you have such a friend?" Felicity murmured softly.

"Friendship lies in a narrow bed. Embrace it as long as you desire," he replied.

"Is that why you were so diligent before? Or was it because last night's events made you perceive me as a shameless woman, an easy target?" Felicity questioned, suspecting his motives were premeditated.

Stephen shook his head wordlessly, gently caressing her cheek. His eyes conveyed tenderness, and his voice carried sincerity. "Not last night, but just now."

"So you truly believe that?" Felicity stood up in anger, glaring at Stephen.

"Don't be angry. You are my first girlfriend in this world," Stephen embraced her and tenderly kissed her. "If it weren't for your reaction just now, we wouldn't be sharing this moment."

"Really?" Felicity eyed Stephen skeptically, her earlier anger dissipating. Slowly, she reclined on Stephen's body. "Tell me about yourself. I know nothing about you. I mean, did you genuinely intend to intimidate or merely abduct me?"

Felicity struggled to accurately describe the situation.

"Yes," Stephen beamed. "I've done this before in Gotham. It's simple, quick, convenient, and easy. Speaking of abductions, I once kidnapped a woman during the day, well, the daughter of a police officer."

"That joke isn't funny," Felicity smiled.

"I'm not joking."

"W-what?"

Felicity stood stunned, then rose abruptly. "Are you serious? Did you actually kidnap a police officer's daughter in broad daylight?"

"Yes, at least that's what she believes. It seems she didn't report it to the police," Stephen pondered for a moment.

"You're insane!"

Felicity shouted and hastily made her way to the living room. After a short while, she returned with her computer in a bag and powered it on. She retrieved her glasses and put them on.

Felicity's fingers danced across the keyboard like a butterfly, swiftly infiltrating the internal system of Starling's police. To her relief, there was no mention of Stephen. His record appeared clean. She turned to him, studying his face with a serious expression. "Were you truly joking?"

"Laurel Lance, her father is Quentin Lance. Look it up," Stephen suggested.

Felicity swiftly accessed the information of both individuals, frowning as she silently observed Stephen.

"Why did you kidnap her?"

After a while, Felicity couldn't bear the suspense any longer. Stephen couldn't help but inquire, feigning indifference.

"I found her intriguing."

"You kidnapped her because you found her intriguing?"

"Yes, your boyfriend can be quite impulsive!" Stephen stood up and hugged Felicity from behind.

Felicity furrowed her brows and resumed tapping on the keyboard, deep in thought. She discovered that not only was there no record of his kidnapping, but the police system didn't even contain any information about him.

She assumed Stephen hailed from Gotham and attempted to infiltrate the Gotham police system, only to find his file marked as highly classified. Although she possessed the skills to crack it, her current notebook couldn't handle the task.

"Who are you?" Felicity turned to Stephen, searching his eyes.

Stephen noticed that his file was classified at a high level, but he paid no mind, smiling brightly. "You, my dear, have you forgotten about me so quickly? Or perhaps you prefer the thrill of novelty and discard the old faster than I do?"

"Love the new and hate the old?"

Just as Felicity was about to inquire about the meaning behind the phrase "the new and tired of the old," Stephen continued, "Look up Queen Industrial Co., Ltd., a steel manufacturing and welding plant."

Felicity effortlessly breached the nearby surveillance system, and soon a video feed appeared.

"What are you doing?" Felicity asked, finally catching on.

"I kidnapped her at that location and informed her that if she wanted to see me again, she should go there and find me."

"You still want to see her? You said you found her intriguing. Do you like her?" Felicity asked, feeling uneasy.

"Even if she likes me, I'm strong, you know. How could I wait for her to come to me?" Stephen smiled.

"Strong? Is this your usual way of confessing?"

"What's the point of confessing? You'd undoubtedly reject me," Stephen replied seriously, very seriously.

Felicity stared at him blankly. What kind of antisocial logic was this?

Real Author: Marvel King

Translator: Zatch[King]Rex